Wales' World War I heroes honoured in Belgium

A memorial made from stones from a quarry in Pontypridd has been unveiled by First Minister Carwyn Jones

A new memorial dedicated to all those from Wales who took part in the First World War has been unveiled in Belgium

A memorial to the Welsh soldiers killed in World War I has been unveiled in Belgium.

In the village of Langemark, which was completely destroyed during WWI, a cromlech made of four Welsh Blue Pennant stones from the Craig yr Hesg quarry near Pontypridd will stand as a permanent memorial to the Welsh victims of the conflict, topped with a red bronze dragon.

In 1917, Welsh soldiers advanced through the small village in war-torn Flanders on the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele. Among those killed in the battle was Welsh poet Hedd Wyn.

The unveiling of the monument is thanks to several years campaigning and fundraising by the Welsh Memorial in Flanders Campaign Group. Members have pushed for a lasting memorial to the Welsh who gave up their lives in battle.

Peter Carter-Jones, the coordinator of the campaign, said: “As the coordinator of the campaign for four years, I feel extremely proud and gratified that this day has come about.

“I have to thank a wonderful committee, the Welsh Government, and the generosity of the ordinary people of Wales who have made this possible. Diolch yn fawr i bobl Cymru.”

According to the BBC, he told the service: “At a chance meeting on 2010 I learnt there was no single Welsh memorial for all the Welsh fallen.

“We wanted to change that. This memorial’s artist is from Tenby, the stones from Pontypridd and the dragon was made in north Wales. Every bit of it is Welsh.

“People not born yet will come here to remember the dreadful history this memorial represents. We will not forget them.”

The Welsh Government has supported the campaign group’s efforts from the outset.

It has agreed to underwrite a shortfall of up to £25,000 in the funding raised for the memorial by the Campaign Group in Wales and Flanders.

As part of the dedication ceremony held yesterday, which hosted about 1,000 people, a minute’s silence was observed by onlookers. Several readings were also delivered.

Carwyn Jones, the First Minister, also laid a wreath after the unveiling of the monument, with a hand-written message on behalf of the people of Wales.

Speaking before his visit to Belgium, he said: “This year we mark the centenary of the start of World War I. It is timely that we should be unveiling this memorial now, as a mark of respect and remembrance for all those from Wales who faced unimaginable adversity here.

“The sacrifices they made and the freedom for which they strived for is why we must continue to pay tribute today.”

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We have started a project that hopes to honour the memories of as many of those who lost their lives in World War One as we possibly can. We are asking you to send us the stories of your relatives and friends so we can always remember them

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